Police lied over pursuit speed:Vic coroner

Two police officers lied about how fast their car was travelling during a deadly pursuit of a 19-year-old speeding driver, a Victorian coroner has found.

The officers now face possible criminal charges after the coroner referred his findings to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Shane Bennett, 19, drove his unregistered car through the back streets of Seaford at speeds of up to 154km/h and went through red lights while being pursued by police late on March 16, 2008, the Coroners Court heard in Melbourne.

Mr Bennett, originally from New Zealand, ran through a red light before crashing into another vehicle. He died later in hospital.

The female driver of the other car suffered life-threatening injuries but has made a partial recovery.

One police car travelled at a top speed of 177km/h during the pursuit, Coroner Peter White said in his findings on Friday.

This was inconsistent with the police officer's version of events, that he believed that he had not exceeded 150km/h.

The officer, Senior Constable Cameron Orr, held a police licence that allowed him to travel at speeds of up to 150km/h.

His passenger, Leading Senior Constable Michael Bednarczyk, estimated they were travelling at 140-150km/h.

But GPS data from the officers' vehicle proved the car was travelling at higher speeds.

Mr White said the police officers' evidence about their actions and decisions during the pursuit was untruthful.

"I find that I do not accept the evidence given by Ldg Sen Const Bednarczyk and Sen Const Orr as truthful and that I did not believe them," he said.

He said the officers were broadly aware of the speeds they were travelling and from time to time deliberately "turned a blind eye" to this issue.

The police officers were directed to abandon the chase by the pursuit controller as the cars neared an intersection where various late-night food outlets were located.

The police car slowed down and its lights and siren were turned off, but it did not stop as required, Mr White said.

He said it was not in dispute that the officers heard the order to stop and slowed down as a partial response to that direction.

However, he said their actions subverted the job of the pursuit controller to manage the pursuit in a meaningful way.

Victoria Police said in a statement it had received a copy of the coroner's findings and was reviewing its recommendations.

"As the coroner has referred this matter to the Office of Public Prosecutions, it would be inappropriate for Victoria Police to make further comments at this time," it stated.

"However we can advise that a comprehensive review into the management of police pursuits is ongoing."

Mr Bennett had moved to Melbourne in September 2007 to live with his brother after running into trouble with police that included losing his licence, the court heard.

The coroner found his driving constituted a serious threat to his wellbeing and other road users.

"He has left behind a family, which has bravely acknowledged his foolishness, while remaining devastated by his loss," Mr White said.